Hero

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ Arthur's Bedroom
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [Boyfriend]
FEELING ⤑ Annoyed.}

Evan's eyes followed Terrance as he left the room, taping another sip of wine as Ariadne had engaged Mr. Patrone in a conversation. He definitely noticed the way he was looking at his sister, the same way most did. She was young and beautiful, often flaunting what she had, though his protective instincts often wished he could ward men away from her. But Helene was a proud, stubborn girl who didn't like anyone telling her what to do, much less meddle in her personal affairs, so Evan was resigned to just letting things unfold. As Alexander bid Gigi farewell with the promise of lunch, she nodded in confirmation, catching Evan's attention. He had known Giselle for some time, so despite her little nod not coming off as much, the fact that she gave him confirmation was evidence enough. Once the boy had left, she caught Evan looking at her. "Yes?" She asked as she took a sip of her own drink.

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend," He stated, surprised.

Gigi choked on her drink, putting the cup down as she coughed. Boyfriend?! Thank goodness Alexander had already left, because there was no way in hell she would have been able to save face for that comment. "We're classmates," She said once her throat was clear. "It's...good to get along, all things considered," She mumbled.

Meanwhile Helene had to fight the urge to destroy the bathroom out of her own pent up agitation. God, Alyssa was so fucking annoying! Why the hell was she being stupid? Truthfully, Helene regretted telling her anything, but Alyssa had been so desperate after getting the truth from Jacob that Helene stupidly believed she would have been understanding. She shouldn't have said anything if she knew Alyssa was going to be like this. Letting out a huff, she turned on the sink, washing her face. Despite the smeared makeup, she felt so much better, and after taking a moment to properly clean her face, she reapplied her lipstick carefully. At the sound of a knock, she realized she was probably taking too long, and after making sure she looked presentable, she heard Terrance's voice.

Shit, she needed to get a hold of herself. Last thing she wanted was to cause a commotion. After slapping herself, she opened the door, throwing on a smile as she looked at Terrance. "Just peachy!" She told him, leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed. "Things turned out better than I could have hoped for, so it's a huge relief," She admitted, wondering what his opinion was on all of this. Her fingers tapped against her arm, her anger slightly slipping through, and she uncrossed her arms, still keeping the same smile. Ugh, she was going to punch Alyssa in her stupid face.

---

A knock on her door pulled Alyssa out of her thoughts, and as she opened it, she spotted her mother walking past. Robert had been the one to knock, much to her surprise. He was still in his suit, although she could tell he had his gun and radio on his belt now. She guessed they were probably going back to work, though she was surprised her mother was leaving too. Looking up at her father, she could tell he was tired. "We're going back to the office, a call came in and it's urgent," He explained, his voice somewhat weary. "Your mother should be back in the morning. I'll see you in a few days."

Despite already knowing the answer, Alyssa asked, "Is everything okay?"

And as predicted, he would nod. "All under control," He uttered his catchphrase, though he patted her shoulder. "Stay out of trouble for me."

The irony hurt so bad Alyssa thought it'd etch itself into her skin, but she nodded, closing the door and locking it. She heard the car drive away shortly after and let out a sigh. She was used to her father never being home, but bringing her mother was a little much. Oh well, work was work. Deciding to change, she took her hair out of her ponytails and took off her clothes and started putting on her pajama top, starting from the bottom button and working her way to the top. Another knock caught her attention, this time from the window. She waited for a second, her hand to her chest where the ruby necklace sat, and sure enough the knocks came again. He really came.

Pulling the curtains back, she unlocked her window and opened it, coming face to face with Jacob. Despite having just seen him earlier, it felt like it had been too long. Stepping back to let him in, she bit her lip as he hit her desk, and she tried not to laugh. "You never learn, do you?" She asked, shaking her head as she walked up to him. "I guess some things just don't change..." Her hand went to her necklace again, and she looked up at Jacob, unsure of what to say next. "I miss you."

---

As they entered Arthur's room, Evangeline's thoughts were a mess. She could tell him anything at all? Often times the intentions were sincere, but she was scared he would look at her differently. The truth wasn't really something she gave out, and the one time she did, the information went to the wrong person. She could still hear the cruel laughter of her former classmates with Victoria at the helm, a vicious grin on her face. And to the side, a guilty look on his face, was Julius. Ha, now there was someone she hadn't thought about in a while. But still, Arthur wasn't Julius, he had already proven he was willing to go out of his way for her. He didn't turn around and fan the flames, he just wanted to understand.

As she pulled her hair out of its ponytail, she took a look at herself in her vanity mirror as she sat at his desk. Her other hand had reached for her brush, but her eyes just stared at her reflection. "You know, the older I get, the more I realize we look nothing alike," She admitted to Arthur. "Ever since I was little, I used to get comments like that all the time. They used to be little jokes, mostly referring to my hair. Both my parents had brown hair and dark blue eyes while I popped out as a blonde, so of course people were going to notice," She paused, setting her mirror down. "It wasn't until I needed a bit of blood that the truth came out. I used to get sick a lot as a kid, so I basically lived at the hospital. Turns out you can't have a child with type B blood if you're A and your wife is O."

She decided to stand, placing her hands on his chair. "When we went home that day, he confronted her about it, and she admitted that shortly after they got married, she reconnected with an old flame and had a last hurrah or whatever. My father--the man I thought was my father changed overnight. And who could blame him, being led on like that for years? I think I was...eight? Nine? I can't remember," Her gaze was fixated on her hands that gripped the seat as she spoke. "He left and I haven't seen him since. And of course, I was left in the dark thinking my 'dad' had up and left me for a while until I caught on. One of my mother's friends said she knew it, as apparently I look just like my biological father's family. I don't know if it's true, my mother wouldn't tell me where he was and I wasn't really able to track him down."

Forcing herself to look at Arthur, she smiled at him. "We haven't gotten along since then. But now that I'm older, I know that I was a mistake. She didn't want me, only having me around because her husband desperately wanted a family. Funny how things turned out," She shrugged, diverting her eyes towards the end of her sentence.

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ On the Road
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [Boyfriend]
FEELING ⤑ Annoyed.}

Helene visibly winced as she saw the pictures, and she heard Ariadne snicker at her. Evan was more focused as he studied them, though he made no comment. As Mr. Patrone continued, Helene made sure to pay careful attention. So, they were free to do as they pleased so long as they did their part. That much seemed to satisfy Ariadne, who Helene knew was itching to get back to work. She wasn't expecting Isaac to be the one working with them, though she supposed it was like what Gaspard wanted for her. He grinned at her, though she caught his intentions and found herself looking away, slightly embarrassed. Gigi raised her eyebrow, at her, to which Helene caught the look and tried to refocus. "They do," She told Mr. Patrone, nodding.

Ariadne smiled, patting Helene's head. "Now that I can spread my wings, I think we'll be able to get rid of him in a week. Once we get rid of Bastien, we can focus all our efforts on what matters," She said cheerfully, pulling Helene in a hug. "It's just hard to think of anything when my precious little Étoile is constantly having to look over her shoulder! She should be enjoying high school and get herself a cute boyfriend!"

"Not here!" Helene whined, trying to push her away. "Please!"

"You have our sincerest thanks," Evan added as Ariadne squeezed Helene harder, and after a few seconds, he would clear his throat and Helene would huff in annoyance. "Your hospitality is also appreciated, it's been a long time since we've had dinner together like this."

"Helene prefers watching TV instead of having a nice meal with her siblings," Ariadne said, much to her embarrassment. As Ariadne shot Helene a grin, she rolled her eyes. "If you'll excuse me," Helene said as she pushed her chair back, deciding that a bathroom break would get her away from Ariadne for a bit. Walking to the bathroom, her phone beeped at her, and she stopped in the hallway to see what it was. To her surprise, it was from Alyssa of all people. Leaning against the wall, Helene's eyes scanned the rather long message. Apparently the brunette felt that the awkwardness between the two needed to be discussed.

Once she knew Helene was out of earshot, Ariadne's expression became serious. "I didn't want to say this in front of her, but...it seems Bastien is a lot closer than we thought. I don't doubt I can find him in time, but I have to confess I fear he will find her before I find him."

---

Taking in a deep breath, Alyssa leaned back against the car seat. Her younger brother was preoccupied with his own phone, her parents in the front seat talking about...something, who knew, she could never keep up with what they talked about, anyway. Alyssa scratched her cheek, wondering how Helene would respond. Considering that the two had a tendency to bump heads, Alyssa figured Helene would take her message the wrong way. She just wanted to talk, that was all. But when Helene's text came in, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Of course she was going to be dramatic about it: I'll meet with you, but you're the one making things weird. How the hell was any of this her fault? Didn't she realize the super awkward situation she put her in? The car came to a halt, and she practically jumped out of the car. If she was going to argue properly, she wanted to be comfortable, and her feet were killing her. After bidding her parents good night, she watched her father talk to her mother for a moment. The only reason Alyssa had agreed to go to the event was because her father had actually asked, but it wasn't until now that she figured it was so he could show his colleagues that he was a 'family man' or something. Since when?

Throwing those thoughts aside, Alyssa entered her bedroom as she hit Helene with her response. I wish you'd get your head out of your ass and try to see things from other people's point of view. Not everything is about you.

I confided in you because you asked for the truth. Now you're blaming me? Forreal?

Forget it, I don't want to have another argument with you.

Too bad, I'm going to find you tomorrow and we'll talk shit out. Get some rest so you can properly get on your knees and apologize for being a colossal bitch.

Man, Helene knew how to get vicious on a dime. Deciding not to respond, she changed into more comfortable clothes, a glint catching her eye. Jacob's necklace, or rather, her ruby necklace was neatly placed on her nightstand. Walking over to it, she picked it up as she sat on her bed, staring at it. Whyw as it that despite knowing the truth, she wanted nothing more than to see him again? But every time she thought of his face, his smile, the moment he said he loved her, the horrible truth kept creeping back up to her in the back of her mind. If her dad ever found out, it would only spell out disaster. She could only sneak around for so long before he'd want to know about Jacob. And then what?

Whether it was the wine she had earlier or an act of impulsiveness, Alyssa ended up sending a text to Jacob. I want to see you again. and promptly tossed her phone to the side, staring at the ceiling. She had to put things on pause for just a little bit or she was going to drive herself crazy.

---

Despite arguably having the last word, Eva's mood soured considerably. Her lips seemed stuck in a slight frown, her eyes unfocused as Arthur drove. She was still relatively annoyed by the fact that Evelyn had actually expected her to go home with her. Was she crazy? Delusional? Sure she felt a little bad for Marshall, but holy fuck why did her boyfriend care more about a kid unrelated to him than her own flesh and blood? It didn't help that she really tried to throw Saturday back in her face, and she wondered if Marshall knew. That'd be embarrassing, but knowing Evelyn she'd cover it up to save face. Arthur's voice brought her out of her thoughts for a moment, and she looked at him for a moment. She was probably obvious, but she never was any good at hiding how she felt. His hand rested on her thigh, a comforting gesture, though she had no idea where to start.

Deciding to just speak what was on her mind, she let out a sigh. "I just hate that we haven't had a civil conversation in literally years," She muttered, pressing her cheek against the window. "She's not going to change, I'm never going to change, we're just going to keep fighting for the rest of our lives. If Marshall isn't around we just explode at each other, it's just--it's never going to be the same from when Dad--Brett--There's this stupid part of me that thinks that, I don't know, someday we can have a normal conversation, but it's not going to happen. The damage is done." The last thing she wanted to talk about was him right now, but it felt unfair that she wasn't telling him the whole truth. Pulling out one of the roses from the bouquet, her thumb played with its petals, and she stared at it as some of the petals fell off. "It's complicated...I don't think you want to know."

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ Auditorium
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [Boyfriend], Evelyn and Marshall [Parents]
FEELING ⤑ Tense.}

Their welcome was a lot warmer than Helene had expected, though it was better than the many, many bad scenarios playing through her head. Still, as she caught Terrance's smile, she realized that she really needed to keep her head in the game, especially if she wanted to preserve those moments with him. Giving Terrance a wink, she took her seat, though she wasn't really sure what to say. As Alexander would compliment Gigi, she grinned, watching as said girl lowered her head. She probably wanted to ignore his comment but knew that it could be taken the wrong way. Not that Helene thought the Patrone would think anything of it, but for some reason it was immensely satisfying to see the normally calm Gigi at a loss. Ariadne nudged her slightly, waiting for a response, and the dark haired girl kept her head low as she muttered a very quiet "Thank you," to Alexander. Oh, Helene was going to remember this for a long time. She had almost missed Isaac's compliment and was pretty surprised to see how smooth his words came out. He wanted to know about her? It was an entertaining thought, that much she had to admit. "I'm just an ordinary girl," She teased. As for her family, she wasn't really sure if admitting having a dead mother and a MIA father was...appropriate. Her family wasn't exactly as close knit as his--well, she was close to her siblings and uncle, so that counted, right? At the mention of the sights, she shook her head. The mall and the airport were the only things she had been interested in, so maybe accepting his offer was for the best.

Once she finished, she noticed Ariadne slightly nudging her with her foot. She lightly motioned to Mr. Patrone as he drank his water, and she sat up a little. Showtime! Sure enough, he brought up his initial question. Oh, this one was easy, she actually knew it! Wow, if she did the same legwork maybe she'd do better in class, too. Leaning forward slightly, she placed her hands on her knees. "Well, we hope that working for the same goal gets us what you want--international expansion, strengthening numbers, and upping the quality of trade," She stated.

Ariadne cleared her throat, placing her hand on Helene's shoulder. "The specifics are here," She motioned for Gigi to offer the documents, and as bad as she felt stealing the spotlight, it was something neither she or Evan had informed Helene. "But if I'm being honest, the Carbone family is also looking for help. While it has been some time that we have wanted to meet with you, there's been a little mosquito buzzing around that has been taking up some of our time. While we have the men for the job, this mosquito has been rather crafty in his hiding. Of course, with your permission, we can storm the city properly and get it taken care of."

"In exchange, in addition to our offer we've included a bonus, so to speak; having a man like Gaspard owe you one isn't something to scoff at, either," Evan added as Helene pouted, though she changed her expression as Evan pinched her cheek. "The mosquito in question is Bastien DuBois, someone who has decided that the best way to get to my uncle is to come after little Helene right here. I believe one of his men was taken care of, though I'm not sure if that was your territory."

---

The tension between mother and daughter was interrupted by Arthur for about three seconds before it resumed. Evelyn's eyes were sharp as Arthur complimented Eva, watching the girl's appreciative smile. Eva herself ignored her look, happily letting Arthur pull her to his side and hugging the bouquet. "How did you know I love roses?" She asked him, giving him a smile just for him.

Marshall couldn't help but chuckle, clearly not sharing Evelyn's disapproval. He genuinely loved seeing Eva so happy, and considering this was the first time he had seen her in love, he made sure to at least try to keep things pleasant. "Because you're a romantic, and every romantic loves roses," Marshall teased, winking at Arthur. "If you stare at him any harder, he's going to get embarrassed. Are you going to introduce him or am I going to have to start guessing names?"

Evelyn seemed to have connected the dots as she looked at Eva, clearly remembering the weekend. "Is this your fling?" She asked her curtly.

Eva gave her a rather cold smile, though she didn't let her comment deter her. "This is my boyfriend, Arthur," Eva introduced him as she got closer to him, putting emphasis on her words. "Arthur, this is my mother Evelyn, and her boyfriend Marshall."

"It's good to meet you," Marshall said cheerfully, though it was hard to ignore the glares Evelyn and Eva were giving one another. Feeling that things would likely turn hostile, he took Evelyn's hand. "Why don't we give them some time, I'm sure Arthur and Eva want some time together."

"They've spent plenty of time together, believe me," Evelyn stated, crossing her arms.

Yeah, no, Eva wasn't going to keep her cool for much longer, and she wasn't about to explode where potential recruiters could see her. "Okay, this has been fun, but I'm leaving," She said, taking Arthur's arm.

"Leaving? Where do you think you're going?" Evelyn asked.

"Did you forget you kicked me out?" She asked. "Or are you telling everyone I ran away to save face?"

"Don't be ridiculous, you need to come home."

"You can go wherever you want. I'm leaving with Arthur," Eva said cheerfully. "I'll make sure to get the rest of my things soon, or you can throw them out of whatever. But I'm not living with you if it can be helped. Arthur, let's go."

What Happens In Vegas: Remastered

Groom as been updated!

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ Auditorium
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ No one
FEELING ⤑ Heart pounding nervousness. So business as usual.}

"I can't do this!"

Gigi entered the house just in time, it seemed, as Helene was having a nervous meltdown. The girl was on the couch, her knees pulled up to her chest with a look of terror painted on her face. She wasn't dressed, still in her uniform, but Gigi had a feeling she hadn't budged from that spot since school ended. Gigi had to duck out to recieve some paperwork Evan had requested for the evening, although she had stopped home to make herself just a little more presentable. Nothing special, just her black jacket, white button up, a pair of slacks, and her holster holding her personal gun. Her earpiece was under her hair, although she doubted it or her gun would be used tonight. Evan was still in his suit, trying to comfort his sister, though it seemed he was failing miserably. At Gigi's arrival, Helene looked up, and she could see the fear in her eyes. Evan sighed, beckoning Gigi over even though he knew she was just as bad at comforting people as he was.

"What's wrong?" She asked, placing the folders on the kitchen counter.

"Pre-show jitters," Evan explained, patting Helene's shoulders. "She's just a little nervous."

A little was an understatement. The only person that had a tendency to get that nervous was Alyssa whenever she had something big happen, although she usually paced to relieve herself; Helene refused to move. The door opened again, and in stepped Ariadne, much to Gigi's surprise. She was also dressed relatively simply, almost matching Gigi's outfit, although her pencil skirt and heels differed. She seemed to notice, and gave Gigi a wink. "Great minds think alike!" She complimented her, although she looked at her hair. "I'm going to request you put yours up, though. We don't want to give off the wrong impression, have your earpiece in your pocket."

Gigi nodded as she did was instructed, walking over to the bathroom to find something to tie her hair up with. Ariadne turned her attention to Helene, kneeling down. "You're still not dressed? It's almost time to go," She told her gently. "You've come too far to just let this go to waste, right?"

"I'm pathetic," Helene mumbled, putting her feet on the floor. "I can't stop thinking about everything that could go wrong. We could very well end up never coming out! We could get shot! Kidnapped! Drugged!"

"She's been like this all day," Evan explained as he would stand, choosing to look over the documents one last time. "Here, Helene, this is what Oncle Gaspard is offering."

"Why is it in Francs? Shouldn't it be in Euros?" Helene asked, her eyes zipping through the document.

"Those are conversion rates, Helene," Ariadne answered. Letting out a whimper, she pushed the papers away, her head in her hands. The entire scene was extremely jarring to Gigi, who in ten years had never seen Helene so distressed. She was always the type to keep her head on straight, who didn't so much as flinch even with a gun pointed at her face. But apparently this meeting was either too much or was just the straw that broke the camel's back, and the girl was a mess. She looked at Ariadne, who gave her a smile as she sat down next to Helene. "You're underestimating yourself. Just think of it as practice, you'll have me and Evan right there to help if you need it," She said, hugging her. "Oncle is so proud of you, you know? He thinks you're going to take us far. But to get there, we need to get ready. You can wear whatever you want, pay no mind to us, you're the star of the show, okay?"

Evan watched them for a moment, although his phone began to ring. "Bonjour? ...Ah, elle est juste ici, laissez-moi la mettre," He prodded Helene with his phone. "It's for you."

For her? But he had answered in French, who was it? Taking the phone rather nervously, Helene put it to her ear and heard a very familiar, warm laugh. "Mon Étoile est nerveux, elle? Dites à l'oncle Gaspard ce qu'il peut faire pour aider," Even though she couldn't see his face, she could tell he was grinning from ear to ear. "Étoile! What is going through that beautiful head of yours right now?"

Ariadne and Evan gave each other a look, the two giving Helene some space. Ariadne noticed Gigi's rather poor attempt at a bun, taking the girl by the elbow and leading her back to the bathroom. "I'm so happy to hear your voice again," Helene admitted, leaning back to relax her stuff shoulders.

"And I am happy to see you hard at work. Look at you, not even graduated and diving right into the heart of the underground. I would have liked for you to enjoy your childhood just a little longer, but if this is where life takes you, then can we really go against it?" Gaspard cleared his throat, a sign that someone had tried to ask him something. Helene knew he hated being interrupted when he was on the phone. "Tell me what troubles you."

Everything, but she wasn't about to admit that. "Just...nervous..." She mumbled. "I feel like everything can go wrong if I mess it up, and it won't just be me that suffers for it."

"Étoile, that is the life we live. Your siblings and I, we think like that every time we have a decision at hand. We think of ourselves, we think of our people, we think of you and your well being--the thoughts going through your head are the right ones," He explained. "I do not have very long, as Carmela is insisting whatever she has to say is more important than talking to my niece, but whatever the Patrone family wants, you give it to them. Their reach is exactly what I am looking for. Of course, if they insult you, you let Oncle know, and I promise I'll make sure they all suffer for it."

"That's not necessary, I swear!" Despite the threat, Helene found herself laughing. "You're all the way across the sea, how are you going to accomplish that, hmm?"

"If I have to go to the sea in a row boat then so be it, the honor of my Étoile is second to my own," Gaspard boasted, although he quieted down for a moment. "Be afraid of nothing, Étoile. Fear is only there to remind you that you have things in life you care about. Now, Carmela is about to drag me out of the office, so I must go. Take care of yourself, je t'aime."

"I love you, too," She said, the call ending a few seconds later, but not after her getting to hear Carmela's angry ranting. Putting Evan's phone down on the couch, she jumped up, running to her room. She noticed her phone on her bed blinking at her, and she opened it up to see Terrance's text. For him? She giggled, going to her closet and knowing exactly what to wear. Ariadne simply smiled just as she finished Gigi's bun, letting out a giggle at Gigi's unamused expression. She had basically replicated her own hairstyle onto her. "I feel like my hair is going to be pulled out of my scalp," Gigi grumbled.

"Nonsense, you look magnificent!" She said, procuring a rather long, particularly sharp hair pin with a silver butterfly at its end. "I think it's best if we go in without our guns, you'll be the only one armed." She said as she put it through Gigi's bun, and she noticed that Ariadne had one as well.

"If you are going to go unarmed, these might give off the wrong impression," Gigi pointed out.

"I said without our guns, Giselle, I did not say unarmed~" She giggled, hugging the girl from behind. "You know, I think I can make your lips pop with this lipstick I have--" She said, her hug trapping the squirming Gigi as she reached for her bag.

"Please, don't--"

The two began to bicker as Evan walked into Helene's bedroom. She had changed at record speed, sitting at her vanity in a light blue dress. Despite the amount of cleavage it showed, her jewels seemed to draw attention to it, and he approached her as she put on her earrings. "Good to see he managed to calm you down," Evan said, picking up her hairbrush and running it through her hair.

Helene put on her lipstick, sending her reflection a kiss "I don't do 'nervous'," She said, though she winced as he found a knot. "Evan, if things go wrong, I..."

"I'll make fun of you for all eternity in the afterlife, so no worries there," He dismissed her concern, earning him a glare from her. "No time for glaring, we need to go," He said as his watch beeped, taking the comb and making sure it was secure in her hair before pulling her to her feet.

Once her heels were on, Ariadne and Evan went to the garage, and she spotted Gigi's very pretty looking scowl. "It's just lip gloss," She teased. Gigi rolled her eyes, and together they would enter Helene's car. Her nerves started acting up again as they drove, and Gigi had to take the documents from her to make sure she didn't end up accidentally ripping them. A reminder on her phone popped up, and though it didn't list the event, she suddenly remembered it was for Eva's recital. Shoot, she was really slipping up in the friendship department. She scooted closer to Gigi, who got the hint and threw up a peace sign as Helene took a picture of them. Good luck! We're rooting for you!! As the message was sent, she let out a sigh, although she perked up as she realized they had arrived. "If I throw up, make sure no one gets a picture of it," She told Gigi as she got out of the car.

Having to go somewhere like this without her gun made Gigi feel exposed so she was glad she got to keep hers on hand, though as Evan secured his in the car, she wondered why they were approaching the house so underhanded. Evan had briefed her that the three of them would be acting as the 'muscle', although she couldn't help but note even the three of them was just a little overkill depending on how you looked at it. Despite not having numbers, Helene's entourage was pretty dangerous; Ariadne was pretty well known for her ruthlessness despite having the smile of an angel, Evan interrogated people with any means needed without so much as blinking an eye, and herself...who learned how to kill before learning how to read. Well, she was sure Evan was going to be purely diplomatic. Hopefully. As if reading her mind, he nodded at her as Helene rang the doorbell. "S'il te plaît, laisse tout aller bien ..." Helene couldn't help but mutter to herself.

_{[1]Hello? ...Ah, she's right here, let me put her on. [2]My Étoile is nervous, is she? Tell Uncle Gaspard what he can do to to help. [3]Please let everything go well...}

---

As her phone chimed, Eva opened up the picture Helene had sent her. She must have had to go to one of her brother's events again. After making sure to send her back a thank you, she made sure her phone was on silent and pocketed it. Her violin was tuned, her bow all resined up, and she had her nerves under control. Performing was second nature to her at this point, though it was relatively normal to get all jittery. Her black heels tapped the ground as she listened to the other performances, mentally preparing herself. She had managed to squeeze in some last minute practice after school, and with Alyssa's help had the proper clothing. Alyssa herself had plans for the night but had wished her luck, though she figured it could be a little boring for her friends, so it was fine if they didn't come. She adjusted her ponytail, making sure it was tight, though as her name was called, she figured it was time.

With instrument in hand, Evangeline stood behind the curtain, and as soon as her name was called, she walked out. She had to resist the urge to look at the audience to see if Arthur had come, though she kept herself under wraps as she took center stage, waiting for the clapping to die down completely. No hangover to impede her this time, though as her eyes looked at the audience, she spotted Arthur standing. Ack, no, focus, focus! Though it didn't stop her from smiling. Placing her violin on her shoulder, she took in a deep breath, and began. She felt she had to make up for her previous performance, throwing herself into the music. Yeah, this was way easier with proper rest and no pounding headache. Although she was pretty sure she wouldn't trade that day for any other. Despite her thoughts threatening to distract her, she focused on herself and the music, and once the last note sang, it melted away into the applause. Taking a bow, she brought her head up and waved at Arthur, hurrying backstage to put her things away.

Once she was done, she excused herself from the rest, making her way to Arthur. Just as she was about to reach him, she spotted Marshall approaching her, and her smile faded as she noticed her mother with him. Stopping completely in her tracks, Eva frowned slightly, rubbing her arm. She was genuinely surprised they had showed up, clearly not expecting them. "You were amazing!" Marshall greeted her enthusiastically, hugging her.

"Your pizzicato needs work," Evelyn decided to comment as they parted. "I thought I told you that last time."

Of course she would decide to critique. No greetings, straight to the flaws. "Good thing I made sure to finish with a flourish," She snapped back, though she caught herself. No need to make a scene. "I thought I did well."

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ School Courtyard
TIME ⤑ Afternoon
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [Boyfriend]
FEELING ⤑ Blissful.}

Her favorite food? Food was substance, the taste and shape didn't really matter so long as it fueled her. Alexander was like an alien, his words trying to communicate things that didn't register with her. She stopped midchew to stare at him, her eyes flicking to his tupperware, and she wasn't sure what to do next. Take it? No, that wasn't hers, her sandwich was fine. It was always fine. As she finished, she tried to think of an appropriate answer. She basically ate the same thing almost every day, the only time she really differentiated was for desert. "...Flan is nice," She replied with a shrug. Something around them changed, and she turned her head to see Eva and Arthur walking through the courtyard together.

For the moment, Eva wouldn't press what Arthur said. As much as it delighted her to hear him call her his girlfriend, the realization that Isabelle had lied made her blood boil. Honestly, it was her own fault for not seeing it coming; Isabelle and Victoria would probably have been best friends if they were in the same school. And considering how much Victoria loved to manipulate her, she should've seen Isabelle's lies coming. But Eva was getting the last laugh as he took her hand in his, and she didn't think she could be any happier than she was right now. She was his girlfriend. Girlfriend! And he was her boyfriend! And it wasn't some fantasy she had, nor was she something hidden, he walked side by side with her like he was showing her off. Well, actually it looked perfectly normal, but considering Arthur didn't so much as look at another girl before Eva, this was a pretty grand public display of affection on his part.

Gigi shook her head, though she definitely noticed Terrance looking at her. He was obviously having just come back from meeting up with Helene, and she found herself slightly annoyed. Why did she think Helene could get what they needed out of him if they just jumped on each other when they met? Still, Terrance's look wasn't a welcoming one. That was her cue to go, it seemed. Alexander and his friends talked about other things she didn't really care about as she packed her bag once more, and she would stand, brushing crumbs off her skirt. "That won't be necessary. Take care," She patted Alexander's head and then walked off, deciding to go look for Helene.

Eva watched Gigi leave, though she turned to Arthur, her eyes shining. "You should come to my recital tonight," She told him quietly, smiling. "It's...um, it's kind of a big deal? I mean, I won't bore you with the technicalities, but if you could, I'd love for you to come."

---

"He's getting closer, but how?"

Evan kept his eyes on his phone, Ariadne's voice coming from his bluetooth device. Gigi's message had alerted them to her suspicions about the body found on Munez territory. After pulling some strings, Ariadne successfully confirmed that it was indeed one of Bastien's men. Closer and closer he was getting, and at that point, Ariadne's sweep turned into a full on manhunt. She needed to find him before he found Helene, but she was at a loss trying to find where the hell he was getting her location from. Evan himself had decided that he would remain in the city, choosing to watch his younger sister at a distance. He was still on the fence to see whether or not to tell her, though he knew at the very least Giselle needed to be informed. He didn't doubt her skills, but he couldn't help but wonder if she was enough. On the other hand, if he increased security around Helene, that was as good as exposing her.

"Clearly our efforts to deter him have inadvertently gotten his attention," Evan concluded with a cluck of his tongue. "If I'm being honest, I'm slightly more concerned about the push back from the Munez family. Who knows how they'd react knowing we're here in hiding."

"By having a dick comparison contest, how else?" Ariadne huffed. "Where are you going, anyway? You left without saying anything."

"Going straight to Helene's school, I'd very much like to give her this information in person," Evan admitted as the limo pulled up in front of the campus in time for the dismissal bell. "I'll let you know what happens." He exited the car, signaling for the driver to go on without him, and Evan strolled up to the gates. Seeing an older gentleman so well dressed definitely got some students' attention, and he obliged a few of them with a smile, but his eyes scanned the area. The school was well watched so long as you remained on campus, which was comforting, but Helene wasn't the type to stay in school any longer than she needed.

His little sister could be seen in the distance, and he waved at her. Once she spotted him, she hurried over. "Evan?" Helene was definitely surprised as she and Gigi approached him. "What are you doing here?"

He flashed a smile, crossing his arms. "Just dropping in," He said, giving Giselle a wink, though he spotted a familiar looking blonde girl with a guy. "Is that Evangeline? Wow, she turned out gorgeous," Evan grinned, remembering her from the first time Helene had brought her to the house. "Who's her friend?" Evan asked, squinting at Arthur. His face looked familiar to him, not that he ever met the guy, but his face and long hair reminded him of the Myles family trademark.

"Boyfriend," Gigi corrected him. "And that is exactly who you think it is: Arthur Myles."

The Arthur Myles? Evan had absolutely no idea how someone so ruthless could have captured Little Evangeline's heart. She was a sweet girl, and he was...well, that did bring the question of just how much she knew of the Myles family, but last he checked, Evangeline herself had no connections to their world, so the poor thing was probably clueless. Evan was pretty sure Arthur was still active in his field, so the entire situation was completely bizarre to him. He simply nodded, completely unsure of how to properly respond to the news. "To be young and in love..." He decided a generic phrase was best, and as he looked at Helene's surprised expression, he raised an eyebrow at her. "I suppose this is news to you?"

Of course it was! Helene had been so preoccupied with literally everything else that she really hadn't been keeping up with Eva's progress on Arthur. Last she checked she had made the move on him and--no, she was living with him? Did she miss a step? No, she had no idea because she hadn't bothered to check on her friend. Her guilt hit her hard as she watched Eva with Arthur, the blonde girl's adoration for Arthur radiating off of her. They actually got together. She should have been glad, but it meant that she was successful in pushing Eva to Arthur despite her original intention.

Gigi didn't seem interested, looking at Helene. "We should get going," She said, trying to get Helene's attention.

She seemed to snap out of it, nodding in agreement. "Y-Yeah...We can talk at my house."

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ Library -> Auditorium Dressing Room
TIME ⤑ Afternoon
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [???]
FEELING ⤑ Nervous and angry.}

For some reason, Terrance's words seemed to play over and over in Helene's head. He was being a lot more gentle, more tender than usual. It was...surprising, to say the least. She was so used to getting right to the good stuff that taking just a second to enjoy each other's company was nice. No! What was she thinking? He was probably just thinking about what she said. He had a lot on his mind, that was all. But as she looked up at him, watching his eyes that usually held lust hold something else, she thought her heart had skipped a beat. Before she could ask what was on his mind, he kissed her, a different kind of passion behind it. Whatever the reason, Helene lost herself for a moment, and she decided to surrender to her thoughts just this once. She thought she heard her phone but ignored it, giving Terrance her full attention as they kissed. Considering tomorrow wasn't a promise, she had to enjoy this moment, this feeling for as long as she could.

---

Reluctantly taking a seat, Gigi resigned to her self afflicted fate. She was secretly grateful he agreed, though as she took her own bag out, she heard him mention his mother's cooking. What a concept. But that's what normal people did, right? Mothers packed lunches, fathers gave out lunch money. As she grabbed her relatively simple sandwich out of her beg, he asked about her mother. Another normal question. He was a simple guy, she would give him that much, and as she looked at him, he was staring at her with that same look as always. "I don't know. I haven't seen my mother in a decade," Gigi replied, taking a bite. She hadn't thought about her parents since she was shipped out to the states. "I just make my own lunch with whatever's around." She hoped her answer would satisfy him, but considering who she was dealing with, she somewhat doubted it.

Shortly after giving him his answer, she heard the clatter of a phone hitting the ground. She watched as Jacob grabbed it, though her eyes widened slightly as she saw red. It was blood--having seen so much of it there wasn't a single doubt in her mind. She chewed slowly, making sure not to draw attention to herself as she brought out her own phone. Clearly, Jacob's disturbed reaction meant someone had sent it to him. Without moving, she squinted to see, and while she didn't get a very good look, she recognized the clothing he wore. It was very similar to the ones from Saturday. On the outside, she seemed more interested in her lunch, but on the inside her thoughts were whirring rapidly. Were they closing in on Helene's location? Ariadne had said it would be to their benefit, as Bastien could very well be taken out by either the Munez or the Patrone families. Gigi, however, had a different opinion. If they knew it was Helene they were after, they may just surrender her location so Bastien wouldn't come up again on their properties.

Another one showed up. The simple message was sent to the three siblings, and she pocketed her phone shortly afterwards.

---

He...loved her?

Eva blinked in confusion, only able to stand there was Arthur wrapped himself around her. Was this real? A terrible thought said that he was lying, but the longer she stayed in his embrace, the more it was pushed away. Suddenly, nothing Isabelle said mattered anymore, like Arthur was confirming the thoughts that she had. He did care. He felt the same way she did. And as the realization finally hit her, she hugged him tightly, trying not to cry. But even if he did share the feelings, then what were they? "Then we're...?" She couldn't quite stop her blushing as she tried to get the words out. "Are we...going out...?" She hesitated as she remembered what Isabelle said, and she looked away. "What about your girlfriend?"

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ Library -> Auditorium Dressing Room
TIME ⤑ Afternoon
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [???]
FEELING ⤑ Nervous and angry.}

Of course Terrance was shocked. She was probably coming out of nowhere to him. Paying attention to his words and movements, Helene was very cautious. Not that she thought he would attack her or anything, but one never knows. At the mention of her father, Helene stiffened slightly. That asshole was the very last thing she wanted to talk about. Of course, it turned out to be a joke, and then Terrance said exactly what she wanted to hear: a get-together with Jacob. So Gigi was right after all, and for just a second, Helene wondered just how Terrance was connected to him. No, that didn't matter, it wasn't any of her business. The relief seemed to wash over her, though, and at the very least she could tell Gigi she was successful. Shit, wait, Gigi. Would it be too much to bring her along, or was it better if she went alone?

Those thoughts seemed to fly away in the distance when Terrance approached her, however, and he mentioned his own intentions. Wow, even with a vague text, he probably thought she had wanted to do one of their meetups. Not that the thought hadn't occurred to her, she just prepared herself for the worst. Helene couldn't quite hide her amused smile, raising an eyebrow at him. "Terrance, I'm dangerous," She teased, placing her hands on his shoulders as she studied his face. Even if it was a joke, she wanted to be sure. "Are you sure about this?"

---

Those blue eyes of Arthur's were dangerous, but Gigi was just as dangerous as he was. Of course, they weren't going to start anything, and after her statement he mentioned she wanted to talk. About what, who knew, and it wasn't supposed to be any of her business. Of course, Gigi knew Eva well, so she remained silent, watching as Arthur turned on his heel to go find her. She shook her head as she watched Arthur. Emotions were definitely dangerous, and despite the glare he gave her, he was putting everything on the line for Eva. How troublesome, she thought to herself, but maybe she was in the same boat. She wasn't nearly as emotional as Arthur, keeping herself under wraps, but without her friends around, she felt solitude didn't fit her. Maybe she didn't have a place to judge Arthur, after all.

Of course, Alexander popped up with his greeting, and Gigi looked at him. Right, the texts. He probably saw it as an opportunity to speak with her. Her eyes flickered briefly to Jacob, who had perked up considerably. She made a mental note to check in on Alyssa later, and gave her attention back to Alexander. She let out a sigh in response, shuffling her weight from one leg to the other. "It was fine," Her reply was short as usual, but she lingered. She wanted to walk away, but the prospect of being alone for lunch wasn't appealing. She looked at Alexander from the corner of her eye, in disbelief that she'd rather not be alone, and let out another sigh as she decided to take a chance. "Mind if I join you?" She mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

---

Being dismissed, Eva felt her heart racing as she decided she needed to find Arthur. Pushing the library door open, Eva ran forward without looking and ended up crashing into someone, stumbling back. "I-I'm so sorry--" She immediately apologized, though she let out a small gasp as she saw it was Arthur himself. The previous happiness she usually experienced when seeing him was clouded with doubt and anger, and she had to take a second to calm herself down. "We--I need to talk to you, come with me," She told him, taking his hand in hers. For just a moment, that familiar warmth was almost enough to make her forget everything Isabelle said, but the uneasiness she had wouldn't budge. She led him back towards the auditorium, pulling out a small, silver key out of her pocket as she led him to one of the dressing rooms. Students weren't supposed to be in there without supervision, but Eva's constant practice led to her being gifted one of the keys.

Unlocking one of the rooms, Eva motioned for Arthur to enter with her. As soon as they were in, she closed the door behind them. She whirled around facing him. "I need to know something," She began, Isabelle's words plaguing her. "Am I...am I just a fling?" God, just asking was killing her, and while she should have left it at that and let him answer, her emotions seemed to take the reins. "If you're just using me, if there's nothing between us, I deserve to know. I can't keep going without knowing, and--and it's fine if it is, but I...I don't want to be used for some sort of petty revenge! I'm not a tool to be used and thrown away when anyone pleases!" Her burst of anger subsided almost immediately, and she ended up covering her face with her hands in shame. "It's not fair...I gave you everything because I've been in love with you for so long...I thought that maybe you felt the same..." She tried to control herself, but she couldn't stop.

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ Library
TIME ⤑ Afternoon
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Isabelle [Classmate]
FEELING ⤑ Anxious.}

Dread was a terrible feeling to carry, this much Helene learned. It was probably the first time in her life that the bell signaling lunch was something she didn't want to hear, her feet dragging as she made her way to the bleachers. The rush of students made it easy for her to sneak by, though she was careful to make sure she wasn't seen. She recited her lines in her head over and over, choosing what and how to say what she needed. There were a few routes the conversation between them could go, and she had to make sure he wasn't going to catch her off guard. She did have a slight advantage, mainly being that there was the slightest chance that he could very well accept what she had to say, but she wasn't an optimist, she was a realist. And the reality was that this was going to go south very quickly.

As she spotted Terrance, her legs seemed to pick up the pace on their own, though the dread began to overwhelm her. Her little slice of heaven was going to be thrown away like everything else she loved. And as soon as that thought crossed her mind, the realization hit her. She could very well lose him. Lose him? He was never hers to begin with, why would she think that? If not him, she was going to lose their moments together. There would no longer be any escape, no more breaks from reality. Her previous determination crumbled at that thought, and in a split second moment of weakness, she ran into his arms, placing a passionate kiss on what could have been the last chance she had on his lips. It was strong, fiery, a little more than the ones she had given him in the past. Before he would take it further, however, she broke them apart, having to physically step away from him so that she wouldn't get trapped.

"Thank you for everything," She found herself saying, mentally locking away her emotions so they wouldn't impede what she had to say. "But there's something I need to tell you." It was just physical. No strings attached. No hurt feelings. No hurt feelings... She had to think like her father, like her uncle, like the head of the Carbone family. And the best way to catch her prey was to use bait--though unlike her cowardly father, she was content on using herself. "It's probably going to be something you won't believe, but I promise everything I say is real." Why the hell was her heart beating so fast? Lord have mercy, she was pathetic.

"I know it's pretty obvious I'm not from this country. I came here about six or seven years ago from France. At that time, there was a power struggle within my family, and it quickly became a blood soaked battle for dominance. It wasn't really my choice to come here; my life was in danger, and it was my best chance at survival," She began, playing with her hair nervously as she told her story. "And the reason for my life being in danger--even now--is because I am Helene Étoile Carbone, current heiress to the Carbone family. It's...one of the biggest mafia families in Europe." She released her hair as she studied Terrance for a reaction.

---

Where was everyone?

It was the strangest feeling to be sitting alone at lunch. Gigi found herself looking around, trying to find her friends. Was it the familiarity? She hadn't sat alone in years, not since she was assigned to Helene. At first it used to be only them, then they met Eva in Hartford High, and became the four of them once they came here. The group wasn't always together, but there was always someone there waiting for her. It was just bizarre, and for a moment she felt like a lost child. The situation made her lose her appetite, and she just sat there, waiting. She figured Helene had probably gone to meet Terrance, though if she was honest, she doubted Helene was actually talking and knew they were probably going at it. Alyssa wasn't speaking to them, not responding to Gigi's greeting earlier. So that should have left herself and Eva, but the blonde was nowhere to be found, either.

She spotted Alexander, Jacob, and Arthur together, and the slightest pang of jealousy hit her. Why was she getting so worked up over lunch? These past few days have been one hell of a rollercoaster, so she was slightly stressed out. Returning to the normalcy of school was probably something she didn't know she wanted. Letting out a sigh, she leaned back in her seat. She had been restless ever since she had spoken to Ariadne, who had informed her of what she had learned. Her eyes landed on Arthur once again, and considering how miserable he looked, something seemed wrong about that picture. Why wasn't he with Eva? Apparently they had spent the weekend together. What, he didn't want to be seen in public with her? That last thought pricked her in annoyance. Not that she agreed with the two having a relationship, but it looked so bad to see poor Eva the center of all the nasty comments and Arthur just sitting there feeling sorry for himself.

Before she knew what she was doing, Gigi had stood up, walking over to the trio. Considering recent events this was an idiotic move, but she was relatively safe among the many witnesses. Stopping in front of Arthur, her eyes narrowed at him. "Why aren't you with Eva?" She asked him somewhat curtly; it was easy to tell the usually emotionless girl was annoyed. "If you're going to be responsible for her, you shouldn't leave her side."

---

Getting dragged into the library against her will, Eva outright got annoyed when her classmate ditched her. She needed to talk to Arthur! Letting out a sigh, she brought out her phone to text him, only for the sound of a very sultry voice to catch her attention. Eva's face paled slightly as she spotted Isabelle, whose venomous smile made her stomach uneasy. She was a beautiful girl, but since the first time Eva had encountered her, she reminded her far too much of a girl from her old school named Victoria, and thus Eva usually went out of her way to avoid her. The last thing she wanted was for Isabelle to expose her like Victoria did. She considered leaving, but the dark haired beauty had already stood up, blocking her path as she walked over to her. Eva had seen the slut comment coming from a mile away, though she was surprised when Isabelle expressed pity. Pity because she was Arthur's girlfriend.

Girlfriend? What? Since when? Confusion seemed to take its hold as she explained her situation, and the previous uneasiness Eva felt multiplied. Arthur had never mentioned her before. Neither had Helene, who had continuously pushed her to get together with Arthur. And Helene hated cheaters, so where was this coming from? She had to be lying. Right? Isabelle seemed to take enjoyment in kindling Eva's doubt, going on and on about her and Arthur, and Eva felt her heart sinking as she listened. It couldn't be true. He wasn't just using her. He went so out of his way, helping her when she needed him, it just couldn't be right. But when Isabelle asked if Arthur had said he loved her, Eva's eyes went elsewhere. No, he hadn't. But for some reason she just couldn't believe Isabelle.

"Eva… If someone did… something very bad to you, or someone close to you. Do you think… you’d forgive them?"

Covering her mouth with her hand, Arthur's words suddenly started to make sense. Was this what he was talking about? She started to feel ashamed of herself, her mother's words ringing in her ears. And she so stupidly said she would have to forgive them, or rather, forgive him. She had liked Arthur for so long, and him suddenly noticing her happened so fast that Isabelle's story made sense. But the time they spent together, the moments they had--she wasn't willing to believe they were lies. They couldn't. They just couldn't! Eva stood up, her legs wobbling as she shook her head. "I don't believe you!" Whether it was determination or denial that fueled her declaration, no one knew, but Eva needed to hear it from Arthur himself, she needed to hear it from him!

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ School
TIME ⤑ Morning
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Matthew [Acquaintance]
FEELING ⤑ Wondering what i should do next. Will Alyssa listen...?}

When Matthew mentioned her solo, Eva couldn't help but get nervous. Her Saturday performance hadn't been to her liking, and she didn't get a chance to prepare considering the events of the weekend. She knew Matthew meant well, but bringing up the recital stressed her out. She simply nodded politely in response, her brain screaming that she was going to mess it up. Just what she needed, to mess up the future she had planned out for herself. She shook her head, clearing out those thoughts. No, she just needed to focus. At that point, Matthew mentioned Arthur, and she couldn't help but smile. "He doesn't look it, but he's nice," She said, though she found herself having to keep up with Matthew. As homeroom began, she made sure to pay attention, but her mind drifted off once again. Admittedly she was thinking about Arthur again, realizing that she didn't really know too much about him. Would he be receptive to her wanting to get to know each other better? Or would he reject it, saying they were better as friends? Well, he wasn't really treating her like a friend, or at least not any friend that she knew. How he went out of his way for her after she got kicked out, when they slept together...In the back of her mind, however, she wondered if he only saw her as a fling.

The thought continued as the day went on, and unfortunately, it was a rather distracting thought. As the bell rang and she packed up, she looked at him. Maybe she could try to ask him? But was asking him here such a good idea, or was it better to wait until later? She wanted to know now though, and when she made up her mind, she started to walk over to him. "Eva," Alyssa called out to her, stopping her in her tracks, and Eva stopped, looking between Arthur and Alyssa. Of course. Taking out her phone, she decided to shoot Arthur a quick text about meeting up for lunch (Um, there's something I want to ask you at lunchtime), and then went to Alyssa. "Hey, what was with you and Helene this morning?" She asked as they walked out of the classroom, though her eyes fell onto the necklace in her hands. It was the same one she had the other day.

"Forget about her for a second. I need some advice from someone who's neutral," She dismissed Eva's concerns.

"Is it about Jacob?" She asked. "Helene said you two got into a fight."

"Is that all she said?" When Eva nodded, she continued, "She's right. He said he wants me back, but I can't seem to find it in myself to trust him. If we did get together, it could get...complicated." She sighed, pocketing the necklace for the moment. "But...as much as I keep telling myself it's not a good idea, I..."

Eva seemed to understand, taking Alyssa's hand in hers. "Aly, you don't even have to think about it. You should always go with how you feel first and foremost, everything else will follow," She urged her rather passionately. "Come on, he's miserable without you, and you're sad without him, right? So there really isn't anything stopping you." Her words seemed to affect Alyssa whether she realized it or not. In a way, however, she felt that she needed to take her own advice. There wasn't anything stopping her from just asking Arthur what they were. If he decided they were just a fling, then okay, but if there was even the tiniest chance that he returned her feelings, then why shouldn't she at least try? Staying in limbo wasn't doing her any favors. She looked at Alyssa for a reaction, noticing the brunette hadn't replied yet. She squeezed her hand, smiling. "You have to try," She said gently. "Then at least you can say you did and not have to wonder 'what if'."

Alyssa sighed, though she gave her a smile. "I really, really want to believe you."

"I wouldn't be saying it if it weren't true," She said confidently.

Shaking her head, Alyssa sighed. "Yeah...I'll...think about it..."

---

Walking through the halls, Helene did her damnest to remain in the crowd, constantly looking around. Gigi was determined to corner her, and so far she managed to get herself into class before Gigi could catch her. As she neared her next class, someone pushed her towards the wall. Before she could turn to yell at them, she felt her arm getting dragged, and she let out a yell as she was dragged into a classroom. She fell onto the floor, only getting to watch as Gigi locked the door and pulled down the blinds. Damn it, she was so close! Scrambling to her feet, she laughed nervously, trying to appeal to her friend. Unfortunately, the cold blooded killer wasn't in the mood, her glare alone enough for Helene to hang her head in defeat.

"Why did I think I could count on you for this?" Gigi asked, shaking her head. "Instead of getting any information, or at the very least trying, you decided to just fuck him all weekend, didn't you?"

"Alright, fine! We did! And it was only because I was so damn preoccupied by everything, I couldn't think straight!" Helene admitted, exasperated. "It felt good to let go for the time we had together, so sue me!"

"Let go--Helene, you lose focus anytime you're so much as in the same room as Terrance!" Gigi tried to get her to understand.

"I do not. I just like spending time with him so that I don't have to think about everything else," She insisted. "With him it's like nothing else matters. It's just us..." She fumbled with her hair as she spoke, her heart beating.

Gigi's eyes widened, and she slammed her hand onto the desk. "Are you listening to yourself?" She asked, incredulous. "You love him!"

No, no, it wasn't love. It was a mutual agreement. That's all it was. There was no way it was love. Releasing her hair, she approached Gigi. "No, I don't."

Taking in a deep breath, Gigi recollected herself, although she gave Helene a stern look. "I'm giving you one more chance. Either you get information from Terrance and get him to ally with us, or I am going to get what we need doing whatever it takes."

Helene nodded, and once the bell rang, Gigi unlocked the door, going along to her next class. The girl chose to stay put, taking out her phone instead. Gigi was right, she needed to get serious. Things were getting too complicated. She found her hands shaking as she tried to form a message to Terrance, but she ended up deleting it, holding her phone to her chest. No attachments. No feelings. No one needed to get hurt. But how was she going to get him to listen to her? Biting her lip, she tried to think of something. There was one way she could go, but it was risky. But she trusted him, so...this could go great or go horribly, horribly wrong. As she calmed herself down, she knew what she needed to do. Helene brought up her text history with Terrance, once again typing up a text, but this time she left it vague. No flirting. It went straight to the point.

We need to talk. It's important. Let me know when we can meet up.

God, it wasn't anything like she usually wrote. But that was how she would get his attention, right?

---

In the next town over, in one of the well-known hotels sat Ariadne in a room. Said room was well lit, untouched with the exception of the desk where she had laid down several maps, which had several black circles drawn with the exception of a single red circle. Leaning back in her seat, Ariadne's green eyes studied the piece of paper in her hand. It was a recent report she had requested from intelligence, the likes of which she had hoped would clear up one of her suspicions. The redheaded woman tapped her fingertips to the desk, multiple thoughts running through her head as she looked from the paper to the desk. She scratched her head, slightly frowning, although she perked up slightly at a knock at the door. Standing up, she took an envelope and her letter opener, peeling the envelope open as she opened the door. It was Evan, who raised an eyebrow as he closed the door behind him. "A letter opener, really?" He asked, shaking his head.

She pointed it at him, smiling. "It's sharp and I'm strong enough to pierce it through a limb, so you're lucky I like you," She replied rather cheerfully, following him to the desk she previously sat at. "How'd it go?"

"What, interrogating that nobody? A waste, he was an obedient lamb who got lucky," He replied, eyeing the map. Noticing the red circle, his eyes narrowed. "Are these the locations they've been hitting?"

Nodding, Araidne pointed to it. "That's where they spotted Helene's car. You say they got lucky, I say they're watching her," She stated, placing the letter opener down and tossing the envelope into the trash. "They're gutsy, striking so close to where the Patrone and Munez families are. Bastien must be getting desperate, he's using more resources to find her than I suspected. The closer Bastien gets to Helene, the closer I realize he is to getting them."

"You think the Patrone family would act?" He asked slowly. "Their allies are pretty tight-knit. We might not even have to lift a finger if he so much as steps a toe in the wrong direction."

Ariadne seemed to agree, taking out a blue marker. "True, but..." She circled one of the houses.

"So now that you know she's safe, we can go," Evan said.

"I want to agree, but...after the conversation I had with Giselle last night, I found out Helene is close to Brady's kid," She sighed, putting a blue circle on the map. "If she says the wrong thing, it could mean trouble. Well, more trouble. Not to mention the Patrone kid is apparently in love with her."

"Ah, to be young and in love..." Evan sighed. "I wonder what that's like."

"It's dangerous is what it is. I wonder if the kid even knew he fell in love with his worst enemy's daughter," She frowned, putting one more circle on the map. "Anyway, what I was thinking was that if Helene talks to the right people, we could potentially get some business talk here."

Evan hesitated. "Why Helene?" He asked.

"To get some experience, Gaspard wants her to take over when she graduates, and if she manages to set something up here, it'll be beneficial to everyone, and she can choose to stay if she desires," Ariadne ticked off the reasons. "Or she can take my place, I would like to go back home if I'm being honest."

"I like it here. The people aren't very bright, so it makes my job easier," Evan admitted. "But you have a point. I'll go meet with her to discuss it."